Steam-trap.



G. W. NISTLE.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1911.

Patented May 7, 1912.

GEOBGE W. NISTLE, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIG AN, ASSIGNOR TO ILLINOIS ENGINEEBIN COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STEAM-TRAP.

r Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '7, 1912.

I Application filed May 4, 1911. Serial No. 625,042.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. Nrs'rrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Muslzegon, county of Muskegon, and

State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Steam- Traps, of which the following is' a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam traps and refers more particularly to that type of traps commonly known as inermostatic traps, which are principal y used on radiators.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a construction in which the thermostat is inclined at an angle to the inlet and discharge passages of the trap; to provide in a construction of this eneral character an improved form of t ermostat; to provide an improvement in the manner of expanding the thermostat; to provide a novel manner of filling the ther mostat and attaching a fitting thereto which also serves as a closure for the filling orifice of the thermostat; to provide a construction in which the trap may be blown out and cleaned while under steam pressure without opening the trap; to provlde an improved construction in which the vertical distance between the center of the inlet and the face of the bottom outlet of the trap is reduced to a minimum; to provide a construction in which the trap is provided 'withra plurality of outlet orifices whereby the trap may be used in rights or lofts and connected either to a horizontal or a vertical return pipe; to provide a device which is characterized by its simplicity and economy of construction and rellability of operation; and in general to provide an improved construction of the character referred to.

The invention consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly ointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings-Figure l is a vertical sectional view of the device shown as connected to the outlet of a radiator return pipe. Fig. 2 is a front elevation looking toward the radiator taken on line 2-2 of 50 Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a sectional detailed view ct a portion of the valve member.

1 represents of a steam'radiator and 2 the The top of the trap consists Referring to the drawings, the outlet hub return pipe.

generally of a diaphragm casing 3, inlet passage 4 and outlet passage 5. The diaphragm casing 3 is provided with a removable cover 6. As a special feature of improvement 'the diaphragm casing 3 is inclined at an angle to the inlet and discharge passages thereby materially shortening the distance between the inlet and outlet passages. The construction is such as to materially reduce the vertical distance between the inlet passage and the bottom of the discharge outlet whereby the trap may be placed closer to the floor when it is connected to the radiator.

In some steam systems the return pipe is horizontal instead of vertical. In order that my trap may be more readily connected to such horizontal return pipe I provide a pair of horizontal discharge outlet passages 7 7 which may be closed as 8 when not required. If the outlet passage of the trap is con-' nected to one of the horizontal outlets 7 the vertical outlet 9 may be similarly plugged. In the present instance I have shown the vertical out-let 9 as connected to the return pipe 2. The wall of the inlet passage 4 is screwed to the radiator by means of a balljoint union designated as a'whole 10. The diaphragm casing 3 communicates with this inlet passage 4 through means of a small orifice or port 11, which also forms a valve seat for the valve member 153. The valve member 12 is carried by the diaphragm 13, hereinafter moreparticularly described. To the opposite side of. the diaphragm 13 is rigidly fixed a stem 14.- which extends through the annular extension 15 of the cover and is provided at its outer end with a reduced screwhreaded extension 16. This extension 16 is screwed into a cap 17 which is in turn screwed onto the annular extension 15, as shown at 18. The relative position of the valve 12 to the port 11 is such as to materially restrict the latter when the valve is in normal position, thus leaving a relative small opening from between the inlet passage 4. and the diaphragm casing. In practice port 11 sometimes, becomes more or less clogged with dirt and it is necessary to clean out this port or orifice in order that the trap may be restored -to its normal efficiency. In the present construct-ion this orifice may be cleaned or blown out without removing the cover of the trap by simply unscrewing the cap 17 and thus retracting tendency to undulyweaken'theplates.'

., 20 1 or deformed in any way.' -Near their .edges i the diaphragm and valve 12. The orifice 11 will then be blown out by the steam pressure when the cap, will be screwed up and the valve returned to its normal position.

As a special feature of this invention I have provided a novel construction of the thermostat.

experienced in preventing the two plates Heretofore difficulty has been The present device obviates the above difliculty in a simple manner. The thermostat 13 is formed of two parallel flat plates 19 and 20 which are not corrugated the plates are bent toward each othenas shown at 21', 22, to form in effect the side I sion 24 o 5 walls of the'diaphragin, and the'edge 21 is provided. with a flange 23 which has locking enga ement with a hook-shaped exten- %the' opposite plate 20. When the two plates are united in the manner shown in the drawing the interlocking flanges 23 The construction is such as to and 24.- form in efi'ect a strengthening rib. form a rigid and particularly strong joint. The side walls 21 and 22 are so formed as to substantially eliminate any expansive strains on the joint. It is to be understood of course that the joint between the plates 19 and 20 is -soldered after the inter-lockin parts are 'crimped together. The plate 20is centrally apertured asshown at 25 to receive the end 26 of the valve 12. After the diaphragm is filled with the'volatile liquid the valve 12- is soldered in place. Before the diaphragm is filled the edge of the opening 25 istinned. The opposing face of the valve is similarly tinned, then the diaphragm filledand the valve heated-and sol ered in place. .Durin the soldering of the valve in place some 0 the liquid is of necessity volatilized and in this order that it may escape the valve is provided with a small duct 27 through which gas escapes.-' The thermostat is then coole and the external-orifice of the duct 1 27 is closed by solderin as shown at -28; It is to be'understood t at theduct 27 is I of filling the thermostat.

minute andis not to be used for the purpose It; is also to be understood that whenthe thermostat 19 is mounted in the trap it is sealed against .will fully open the port 11 an permit it to be blown out clean. The valve will then be restored to its normal position as heretofore described.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a thermostatic trap, the combination with a thermostat casing, of a thermostatic member seated therein and comprising a pair of spaced a art plates bent toward each other at their e of said side wal s tenninating in an outstanding flange, and the other ofsaid side walls terminating in a hook shaped flange crimped around and having interlocking es to form side walls, one ,a

engagement with-said first flange, one of v said plates having an aperture through which the thermostatic member may be filled with a volatile li uid, a fitting for said aperture and soldere to the plate, said fittin having a gas vent to permit the escape 0 gas developed in soldering and adapted to be closed after soldering is com leted, and a fitting secured to theopposite p ate.

2. In a thermostatic trap, the combination with a casing having inlet and outlet ports, of a valve for said inlet port, a thermostat seated in said casing and provided with an aperture through which the thermostat may be filled with a volatile liquid, said valve fitting within said aperture and soldered f thereto, and said valve having a gas vent to permit the .escape of gas developed in soldering and adapted to be closed aftersaidsoldering is completed.

3. In a thermostatic trap, the combination with a casing havingan inlet and a dis charge passage, a valve controlling said inlet passage, a thermostat seated-in said casing and connected at one side to said valve, a

thermostat, and means for retract-ing said I fitting to carry the valve away from the inlet port whereby the inlet passage may be cleaned out by radiator ressure.

GEOR E W. NISTLE.

- Witnesses:

D. L. BELKNAP LOIS Fonon.

fitting secured to the opposite side of said 

